I am very, very seriously contemplating starting a new feature called Dear Future Arborists.  How many courthouses have I come across that are beautiful, but cannot be photographed?  This courthouse is lovely in red brick and white hewn detail, but it’s hard for you to see that because of all the big green leafy trees on … Continue reading 618. Garnett, Anderson County (KS071) →

The courthouse here was built in 1959.  It’s not great, but it’s not terrible either, definitely something somewhere in the middle of “don’t love it” and “don’t hate it.”  That being said, the interesting feature here on the grounds is the clock from the original 1909 courthouse, salvaged when the old courthouse was demolished.  I … Continue reading 617. Iola, Allen County (KS070) →

The drive here was a little bit of a pain.  I was feeling a little anxious after all the time I spent in Paola and tiredness had finally begun catching up to me.  At least the courthouse, also like Paola, was nice.  Again, full kudos to my phone.  The low light capabilities on its camera … Continue reading 616. Mound City, Linn County (KS069) →

It always throws me out of nowhere when a really small town has such a majestic courthouse.  I’m sure this would be more stunning during the daytime, but I wouldn’t have seen the illuminated clock face that way.  Notice again the square tower that I’ve been running into this trip, too.  Overall, this is a … Continue reading 615. Paola, Miami County (KS068) →

Nice Courthouse…  Sure, I have a couple of niggles that the Future County Arborists can take note of, but at least these trees manage to frame things as much as obscure. I like the almost WPA-ish feel of the place.  It kind of reminds me of some of the courthouses in Louisiana more than anything.  … Continue reading 614. Alma, Wabaunsee County (KS067) →

For this courthouse, the roughhewn thing seems less like an aesthetic choice and more of the reality of building in the time and area.  It was built in 1884, and they pretty much used whatever they could find to throw this one up.  They added an extension in a similar style, obscured behind the sign, … Continue reading 613. Westmoreland, Pottawatomie County (KS066) →

Not bad.  Not great, but not bad at all.  It’s quite a serious place and has a sort of 60’s panache to it.  That said, I could never expect it to be a great thing, the center of political gravity, when it exists next to this… …this being the State Capitol.  Also, contrary to popular … Continue reading 612. Topeka, Shawnee County (KS065) →

Good form, Lawrence! I knew you wouldn’t disappoint me! Not only do you have a chonker (as the kids say) of a courthouse here, but the grounds are also lovely, cool and inviting. There’s an ice cream place across the street (right behind the camera) that caught my eye, and you have no idea how … Continue reading 611. Lawrence, Douglas County (KS064) →

Well, this courthouse is amazingly uninspired.  It’s so boring that I can’t even think of any criticism to level at it because its only real crime is being bland, plain, and nondescript.  I tried to come up with something to say about it, but yeah, I got nuthin’. That said, it's my sixth Jefferson county … Continue reading 610. Oskaloosa, Jefferson County (KS063) →

Admittedly, this is a good solid courthouse and normally I would give it slightly higher marks, but you also have to understand…  This shot?  It’s literally my best guess as to what the front of the building is.  Both this and the other side look identical, but there’s no flagpole.  There’s a circular drive on … Continue reading 609. Holton, Jackson County (KS062) →